Ambrose optimistic following major hip operation

Warwickshire’s former England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose has undergone hip surgery but is expected to be fit in plenty of time for the start of next season.

Ambrose was troubled by a buttock muscle injury at times last season and a visit to a specialist last month revealed a hip problem similar to the one that eventually ended the career of Warwickshire’s director of cricket Ashley Giles.

By having the operation immediately Ambrose hopes to avoid the problems that afflicted Giles between the 2005 Ashes triumph and his enforced early retirement in 2007.

Ambrose had the operation earlier this week and will not be allowed to take part in any weight-bearing exercise this side of Christmas.

“It was a major operation and similar to the problem I had,” Giles said. “But the fact that he isn’t a bowler and that he isn’t as big as me should help.

“He won’t be doing anything until the New Year but we expect him to be fully fit in good time for the start of the season.”

Opening batsman Ian Westwood is also due to see a specialist and is facing the prospect of surgery to rectify a hernia problem.

If Westwood does require an operation he is likely to miss between four and five weeks of Warwickshire’s pre-season training.